Film Review: French Film Has a Bigger Chill in ‘Little White Lies’

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CHICAGO – The landmark ensemble film “The Big Chill” (1983) featured seven former college friends reuniting for the funeral of one of their own. The French film “Little White Lies” takes that concept a step further, as friends go on a yearly retreat without one of their own, because he is in the hospital. Francois Cluzet, Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin co-star.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Cotillard (“The Dark Knight Rises”) and Dujardin (“The Artist”) have broken through to American audiences recently, so this 2010 film is ripe for a stateside release. Set at a seaside resort, the ensemble interact, argue, get drunk, make love and wonder where all the relationships are going in this absorbing and revealingly cultural view on French friendship. Real emotions go much deeper here, and honest reactions seem more prevalent with this group of “Big Chillers.” It’s not fair to compare the two films nearly 30 years after the first BC, but in this film the exploration of friendship seems a bit more reflective and mature.

Ludo (Jean Dujardin) is introduced as a party guy, flitting through a Paris nightclub and interacting with virtually everyone. He goes home on his scooter as the light of day is appearing, and he is hit head-on by a truck. He ends up comatose in an intensive care unit right before an annual vacation with his friends, and they gather around the bedside for a vigil. Max (Francois Cluzet) is the ringleader, and Marie (Marion Cotillard) is the earth mother to them all. The gang decide to go on the annual retreat, and Ludo is left to the hospital’s care.

The open wound that Ludo’s injury causes an imbalance to the getaway. Vincent (Benoit Magimel) makes a confession to Max, which rips their relationship virtually apart. Max himself is distracted by the news, and stars the holiday with anger at the resort house, which he owns. Marie is trying to bring balance to her chaotic life, and takes up with Antoine (Gilles Lellouce), who is having relationship troubles of his own. And Eric (Laurent Lafitte) is in pursuit of an ex-lover named Léa (Louise Monot), who is engaged to another man. “In a cold world, you need your friends to keep you warm,” or “How much love, sex, fun and friendship can a person take?”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Little White Lies”

Eric (Laurent Lafitte, left), Antoine (Gilles Lellouce) and Marie (Marion Cotillard) Kick it in ‘Little White Lies’” Photo credit: MPI Media

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Little White Lies”